Nothing to see here with Owens
It was a wild week for Darian Owens and UCLA on the recruiting trail. First, it came out that Owens was looking to take visits (Nebraska, Oregon State, Washington and Oklahoma were all mentioned). Then, he dropped some serious fire in this interview with the Oregonian, saying his communication with UCLA had fallen off and, "I was just really confused with the whole situation (with UCLA). I don't know, I guess we are going to give (the recruiting process) a chance."
It actually looked like the four-star wideout was poised to open up his recruitment.
But a couple days later, we spoke with a source close to the recruitment on the UCLA side of things, and the source said, "He's good. He's good."
We dug a little deeper into Owens' side of things on Sunday, and the word there, too, is Owens is all good with UCLA once again.
"His words were twisted (in the Oregonian article)," a source close to Owens said. "He will not be speaking to the media any longer. He's 100 percent solid with UCLA and has spoken to Yarbs."
So it looks like this whole situation has been diffused. It sure sounds like a Tevita Halalilo situation all over again, but like Halalilo's case, this one appears to have been fixed by UCLA as well.
UCLA looking to be picky at DB / OL
Two sources told us this week UCLA is planning on being selective at both defensive back and O-line this February. The word is only two scholarships will be allowed per position group, and maybe three each if the right opportunity presents itself.
On the O-line front, one of those two scholarships was filled by C / OG Toleafoa Auwae this week. We've actually heard tackle Alex Akingbulu is ready to pop for UCLA, but with potentially only one scholarship left to give and with some national prospects starting to bite on Adrian Klemm's pitch, we've heard the Bruins aren't in much of a hurry to take the pledge. Akingbulu has set up his Westwood official visit for Sept. 19 when the team plays BYU. I could see a scenario where UCLA spends the next month evaluating its chances with national targets, and if things are looking grim there, it takes Akingbulu's commitment that weekend.
On the DB front, it sure sounds like things are very similar with JUCO CB Devron Davis, Upland DB Andrew Davis, Loyola CB Myles Bryant, Carter S Leni Toailoa and Servite S Keyon Riley. We heard from sources extremely close to Devron Davis that he was set to go forward with a UCLA pledge last Monday, but he decided to hold off. We also talked with Andrew Davis (who was wearing a UCLA keychain) this weekend, and he sure sounds like a guy itching to commit. Riley is hardly hearing from anyone other than Demetrice Martin, Leni Toailoa is a flip waiting to happen and UCLA is Bryant's biggest offer by far as well. Yet with only two and maybe three schollies to give, it seems pretty clear UCLA is trying to wait this one out as long as possible to make sure it's getting the right combo of DBs from the above list of its most recent offerees.
Keep an eye on Parker
We've spent enough time talking to sources close to Jordan Parker over the last few weeks to say fairly definitively that he decommitted from UCLA for two reasons: 1) To get an Oregon offer and 2) To play with Shurod Thompson at the next level.
The thing is, Oregon does not look like it's going to offer and it also looks like it's going to be a stretch for Thompson to get a committable offer from a school.
With Oregon holding firm and not extending Parker an offer, Oklahoma was thought to be the future landing spot for the NorCal duo. But Oklahoma has now backed off Thompson, who has serious academic concerns.
If the Ducks don't offer Parker, and Thompson does in fact go the JUCO route, don't be surprised to see Parker come back around to UCLA.
Short Shots
-Keep an eye on four-star TE Devin Asiasi as well. A source close to the situation told us this week Asiasi is really warming up to the idea of joining four-star DL Boss Tagaloa at UCLA. The problem is at 270 pounds, the Bruins view him as a D-lineman, and he wants to be a tight end. So if UCLA can really sell him on the fact that he can play TE at UCLA, the Bruins might have a shot here. Otherwise, Washington looks to hold the edge at the moment.
-Four-star receiver Theo Howard decommitted from Oregon Sunday night. We had heard whispers for a while that his immediate family (and specifically Momma Howard) was practically begging him to stay in Los Angeles, but Howard swore up and down his commitment to Oregon was rock solid. As it turns out, the family appears to have won this battle. While Howard said TCU was his No. 2 choice behind Oregon, you can probably bet this one will come down to UCLA-USC.
-UCLA lost out on its top tackle target Sunday night when Henry Hattis pledged to Stanford.
-Four-star DE Amani Bledsoe confirmed to Rivals.com this week he'll visit UCLA for the BYU game next month.
It was a wild week for Darian Owens and UCLA on the recruiting trail. First, it came out that Owens was looking to take visits (Nebraska, Oregon State, Washington and Oklahoma were all mentioned). Then, he dropped some serious fire in this interview with the Oregonian, saying his communication with UCLA had fallen off and, "I was just really confused with the whole situation (with UCLA). I don't know, I guess we are going to give (the recruiting process) a chance."
It actually looked like the four-star wideout was poised to open up his recruitment.
But a couple days later, we spoke with a source close to the recruitment on the UCLA side of things, and the source said, "He's good. He's good."
We dug a little deeper into Owens' side of things on Sunday, and the word there, too, is Owens is all good with UCLA once again.
"His words were twisted (in the Oregonian article)," a source close to Owens said. "He will not be speaking to the media any longer. He's 100 percent solid with UCLA and has spoken to Yarbs."
So it looks like this whole situation has been diffused. It sure sounds like a Tevita Halalilo situation all over again, but like Halalilo's case, this one appears to have been fixed by UCLA as well.
UCLA looking to be picky at DB / OL
Two sources told us this week UCLA is planning on being selective at both defensive back and O-line this February. The word is only two scholarships will be allowed per position group, and maybe three each if the right opportunity presents itself.
On the O-line front, one of those two scholarships was filled by C / OG Toleafoa Auwae this week. We've actually heard tackle Alex Akingbulu is ready to pop for UCLA, but with potentially only one scholarship left to give and with some national prospects starting to bite on Adrian Klemm's pitch, we've heard the Bruins aren't in much of a hurry to take the pledge. Akingbulu has set up his Westwood official visit for Sept. 19 when the team plays BYU. I could see a scenario where UCLA spends the next month evaluating its chances with national targets, and if things are looking grim there, it takes Akingbulu's commitment that weekend.
On the DB front, it sure sounds like things are very similar with JUCO CB Devron Davis, Upland DB Andrew Davis, Loyola CB Myles Bryant, Carter S Leni Toailoa and Servite S Keyon Riley. We heard from sources extremely close to Devron Davis that he was set to go forward with a UCLA pledge last Monday, but he decided to hold off. We also talked with Andrew Davis (who was wearing a UCLA keychain) this weekend, and he sure sounds like a guy itching to commit. Riley is hardly hearing from anyone other than Demetrice Martin, Leni Toailoa is a flip waiting to happen and UCLA is Bryant's biggest offer by far as well. Yet with only two and maybe three schollies to give, it seems pretty clear UCLA is trying to wait this one out as long as possible to make sure it's getting the right combo of DBs from the above list of its most recent offerees.
Keep an eye on Parker
We've spent enough time talking to sources close to Jordan Parker over the last few weeks to say fairly definitively that he decommitted from UCLA for two reasons: 1) To get an Oregon offer and 2) To play with Shurod Thompson at the next level.
The thing is, Oregon does not look like it's going to offer and it also looks like it's going to be a stretch for Thompson to get a committable offer from a school.
With Oregon holding firm and not extending Parker an offer, Oklahoma was thought to be the future landing spot for the NorCal duo. But Oklahoma has now backed off Thompson, who has serious academic concerns.
If the Ducks don't offer Parker, and Thompson does in fact go the JUCO route, don't be surprised to see Parker come back around to UCLA.
Short Shots
-Keep an eye on four-star TE Devin Asiasi as well. A source close to the situation told us this week Asiasi is really warming up to the idea of joining four-star DL Boss Tagaloa at UCLA. The problem is at 270 pounds, the Bruins view him as a D-lineman, and he wants to be a tight end. So if UCLA can really sell him on the fact that he can play TE at UCLA, the Bruins might have a shot here. Otherwise, Washington looks to hold the edge at the moment.
-Four-star receiver Theo Howard decommitted from Oregon Sunday night. We had heard whispers for a while that his immediate family (and specifically Momma Howard) was practically begging him to stay in Los Angeles, but Howard swore up and down his commitment to Oregon was rock solid. As it turns out, the family appears to have won this battle. While Howard said TCU was his No. 2 choice behind Oregon, you can probably bet this one will come down to UCLA-USC.
-UCLA lost out on its top tackle target Sunday night when Henry Hattis pledged to Stanford.
-Four-star DE Amani Bledsoe confirmed to Rivals.com this week he'll visit UCLA for the BYU game next month.
